Daijiworld Media Network - Dharwad (SP)

Dharwad, Nov 16: During the raids conducted on some hotels in the twin-city since Saturday night, the city police arrested 126 influential persons, recovered Rs 56 lac apart from 34 cars and 65 cell phones from their possession. The inspector general of police has announced cash prize for the team which conducted this operation.

Based on reliable information, a team led by district superintendent of police, P Krishnakanth, raided two lodges on Sunday. Ismail Tamatagara, who had fought the assembly election on a Congress ticket, BJP leader Tavanappa Ashtagi and others were caught unawares. The leaders however said that they were not gambling but had gone there for the puja.

Belagavi inspector general of police, Raghavendra Suhas, told the media that the raid was conducted after getting reliable information that Andar-Bahar and three-card poker game were on. He added that 70 were captured from Preethi Lodge where 65 mobile phones and seven lac rupees in cash were recovered while the raid at Ramya Residencey yielded 56 arrests, Rs 56 lac in cash and 34 cars. He said that steps as per law have been taken and the names of the leaders who were caught would be provided in the charge sheet being filed in the court.

BJP leader Tavanappa Ashtagi, said that it is customary to play rummy on the occasion of Diwali at the recreation club. He said that he and several others had visited Ramya Residency where they were playing point rummy. He dismissed the notion that gambling was going on, and blamed the policemen of spreading falsehood.

Congress leader Ismail Tamatagara, said that he and several others including Ashati and Deepak Chinchore had gone to Ramya Residency to attend puja. He said that the police had wrongly claimed them to be playing cards there. He said he is not aware why the police are telling lies.